Mashemeji Derby Postponed Again, When Will The Country Have A Suitable Venue?

The Mashemeji Derby, Kenya’s fiercest football rivalry between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, was postponed for the third time this season on May 9, 2025, due to the unavailability of a suitable venue, exposing the nation’s chronic stadium crisis. 

With Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Nyayo National Stadium—the only facilities equipped for the high-risk fixture—under renovation for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), fans are left wondering when will Kenya have a venue capable of hosting its biggest football spectacle. As promises of new stadiums like Talanta Sports City linger unfulfilled, the wait continues, and the state of Kenya’s sports infrastructure remains a barrier to football’s growth.

Why Available Stadia Cannot Host the Derby

Kenya’s stadium landscape is dire, with only Kasarani (60,000 capacity) and Nyayo (30,000 capacity) traditionally suited for the Mashemeji Derby’s massive crowds and security demands. Both are currently unusable due to CHAN 2025 preparations, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2-30, 2025. Kasarani, 90% complete with canopy and pitch upgrades, was flagged by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as unavailable, citing safety risks from ongoing construction. Nyayo is closed for a tartan track makeover ahead of the Kip Keino Classic on May 31, 2025, with floodlight issues and incomplete renovations further limiting its readiness.

under construction Nyayo National Stadium

Alternative venues fall short. Ulinzi Sports Complex (10,000 capacity) declined to host, fearing vandalism and inadequate security for the derby’s volatile fanbase, as confirmed by FKF statements. Bukhungu, Afraha, and Kasarani Annex Stadiums are under renovation or too small, while Dandora, Police Sacco, and Kenyatta Stadium (Machakos) lack the infrastructure for a high-risk match, as seen when crowd control failed at Police Sacco in 2024. The March 30, 2025, derby at Nyayo, which ended 0-0, saw chaos with police firing tear gas to disperse fans, highlighting the need for large, secure venues.

Kenya’s stadium woes are longstanding. Only two major venues—Kasarani and Nyayo—meet CAF standards for high-profile matches, but both have been plagued by delays and mismanagement. Since losing hosting rights for the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and 2018 CHAN due to inadequate facilities, Kenya has struggled to upgrade its infrastructure. Harambee Stars have played home matches abroad since September 2023, including 2025 AFCON qualifiers, due to venue shortages.

Kenya’s government has repeatedly promised new or upgraded stadia, but delivery lags. The Talanta Sports City Stadium, a 60,000-capacity project in Nairobi, was touted by President William Ruto as a 2027 AFCON venue, with construction expected to start in 2024. However, the project faces scrutiny over its KSH 44 billion cost and delays, with no significant progress by May 2025. 

The ongoing construction of Talanta Sports City Stadium

Past promises have faltered. In 2018, Then Sports CS Rashid Echesa pledged five new stadia in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Garissa, but none materialized. Nyayo and Kasarani renovations, ongoing since 2023 for CHAN and AFCON 2027, have missed multiple deadlines, including Former Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen’s November 2024 assurance for Nyayo’s readiness. AFC Leopards’ Dan Shikanda revealed that Nyayo was denied for the March 2025 derby due to concerns about exposing incomplete renovations, despite hosting Junior Starlets days later.

AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia have land allocated for private stadia but lack funds to develop them. Shikanda cited delays in utilizing land from former President Daniel Moi, while Gor’s Francis Wasuna suggested hosting derbies in Kisumu or Siaya, though no concrete plans exist.

The Mashemeji Derby’s repeated delays—November 24, 2024; March 2, 2025; and May 11, 2025—underscore a broader failure. As FKF President Hussein Mohamed works to reschedule the match, fans and clubs demand accountability. Until Kenya delivers on its stadium promises, the nation’s football passion will remain stifled, and the Mashemeji Derby’s roar will be silenced by repeated postponing of the match.